Portable runners starting block assembly

ABSTRACT

A lightweight runners starting block assembly with adjustable positions for the foot blocks and adjustable angles for the foot plates is disclosed. The longitudinal position of the foot blocks can be adjusted by selecting from a series of holes in the central tie bar. The tilt angles of the foot plates can be adjusted by selecting from one of several notches in the brace arms. The foot blocks can be easily removed from the central tie bar and folded flat so as to fit in a space 12 inches long, 12 inches wide and 6 inches high. The three parts can be stored in a small bag for convenient portability.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Continuation of previous application Ser. No. 11/189,406 by F. W. Held(Rejected)

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTINGCOMPACT DISC APPENDIX

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to equipment used by runners to get a secure andeffective start in a sprint race. Initially, starting blocks weredeveloped for dirt tracks with large spikes driven into the dirt to keepthem from slipping. Starting blocks generally evolved into assemblieswith a central rail and a moveable block attached to each side as inU.S. Pat. No. 3,494,615 by G. L. Moore. With the advent of synthetictrack surfaces starting blocks generally used shorter spikes to avoiddamaging the track surface and often provided tilt angle adjustments foreach foot block as in U.S. Pat. No. 4,611,803 by Newton, Jr. Morerecently, lightweight starting blocks without a central rail or tie bar,small enough and light enough to be conveniently carried in a runnerspersonal equipment bag have been developed for synthetic track surfaces.These are seen in U.S. Pat. No. 6,238,319 by Young and U.S. Pat. No.6,342,029 by Richards.

Related U.S. Patent Documents:

3,494,615 Febuary, 1970 G. L. Moore 4,089,519 May, 1978 Newton, Jr.482/19 4,561,650 December, 1985 Newton, Jr. 482/19 4,611,803 September,1986 Newton, Jr. 482/19 4,754,965 July, 1988 Moye 482/19 5,342,259August, 1994 Crichton 482/19 6,238,319 May, 2001 Young 482/19 6,342,029January, 2002 Richards 482/19

The earlier blocks with the central rail have the disadvantage of beingheavy and too large to fit into a runner's personal equipment bag,making it difficult for a runner to carry them from meet to meet or fromhome to workout. They also generally allow some flat surfaces to rest onthe track which contributes to slippage during the start of a race. Themore recent portable blocks (Richards and Young) are light and easy tocarry, but have the disadvantage of being difficult to position on thetrack because they are two completely separate foot blocks and have tobe positioned separately. Powerful sprinters often displace the backfoot block when starting. Since it is not attached to the front footblock in any way, it has to be repositioned after each such start. Thisis a significant disadvantage when doing repeat training starts orwarmup starts for a race.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention provides a truly lightweight portable starting block witha central tie bar. The total weight of the assembly, which includes twoadjustable foot plates an a tie bar, is less than eight pounds. Whendisassembled and folded, it fits into a box (or space) 12 inches long,12 inches wide and 6 inches high. When the assembled unit is in thestarting position on a track, it rests entirely on the spikes locateddirectly under the runner's feet. No part of the assembly other than thespikes under the runners feet touches the track. The direction of thestarting force generated by the runner passes downward in front of theback row of spikes and behind the front row of spikes in each block. Thedownward component of the starting force pushes the spikes into thetrack surface. This spike arrangement insures the securest possibleanchorage to the track and eliminates slippage.

The longitudinal separation of the foot blocks is selected by choosingfrom a series of holes in the tie bar when connecting the foot blocks tothe tie bar. A unique arrangement of attaching the back plate of thefront foot block to the front of the tie bar (See 10 of FIG. 1 & FIG. 2)allows the front foot plate to extend beyond the front of the tie bar.This allows the tie bar to be shorter than the longitudinal separationof the two foot pads (See 2 of FIG. 1 & FIG. 2) . A tie bar or centralrail shorter than the separation of the foot plates is not seen in anyprevious art. The short tie bar reduces the length requirement of thetie bar allowing for lighter weight, convenient storage and easytransportation. The tilt angle of the each foot plate is adjusted byselecting from a series of notches in the brace arm that secures theangle between the front and back plates of each foot block. The tie baralso prevents the displacement of the back foot block so that it isnever necessary to reposition it after a start.

Each foot block is easily removed from the tie bar and folded flat sothat the three pieces can be stored in a small bag and easily carried ina runner's personal equipment bag from meet to meet or from home toworkout.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1. Side view of entire starting block assembly.

FIG. 2. Top view of entire starting block assembly.

FIG. 3. Side view of folded front foot block.

FIG. 4. Side view of folded back foot block.

FIG. 5. Side view of tie bar.

FIG. 6. End view of tie bar.

FIG. 7. View of back plate (Typical) showing opening and dowel pin.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows the profile of the assembled block in a startingconfiguration. This view shows the brace arms 6 which select and securethe tilt angle of the front plates 1 & 12. The brace arms are hinged ata dowel pin 7 attached to the front plates 1 & 12 of each foot block andslide through an opening 5 in the back plates 3 & 13 (FIG. 3). The frontand back plates are hinged at the top by a hollow pin 4 allowing forangle adjustments and folding flat. Any of the several notches 8provided in the bottom edge of the brace arm 6 can be dropped over adowel pin 9 imbedded in each back plate 3 & 13. Each notch selects adifferent tilt angle for the foot plate and secures the desired startangle. The spikes 11 are the only part of the assembly that touches thetrack surface. The front foot block and the back foot block areessentially the same, except for the location of the round rods 10 & 14used to connect the foot blocks to the tie bar 15.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the assembled block in a starting configuration.The front foot block has a round rod 10 attached to its back plate 3near the base. The back foot block has a round rod 14 attached to itsfront plate 12 near the base. These bars protrude on both sides of thefoot blocks and can be inserted in any of a series of holes 18 in thetie bar 15 from either side so as to allow the sprinter to have eitherfoot in the forward position. The round bars 10 & 14 are secured in thetie bar 15 by a tightening screw and knob 16 that is threaded through atightening bar 17. A rubber pad 2 is glued to the front surface of thecurved front plates 1 & 12 to provide a secure footing for the sprinter.

FIGS. 3, 4 & 5 show the three parts of the assembly in a compactconfiguration. The brace arms 6 are rotated down, and each foot block isfolded flat (FIGS. 3 & 4). The two flat foot blocks along with the tiebar (FIG. 5) are shown ready for storage.

FIG. 6 shows an end view of the tie bar.

FIG. 7 shows the position of the dowel pin embedded in each back plateto catch the notched brace arm and secure the desired starting angle.

FIGS. 1 through 7 show a compact starting block assembly weighing lessthan eight pounds which can easily be disassembled and folded to fitinto a box (space) 12 inches long, 12 inches wide and 6 inches high.

I claim:
 1. A runner's starting block assembly consisting of threeparts: a front foot block, a back foot block and a tie bar, having atotal assembled weight of less than eight pounds.
 2. A runner's startingblock assembly consisting of three parts: a front foot block, a backfoot block and a tie bar, which when assembled and placed on a track ina starting position, makes contact with the track only with and throughthe spikes located on the bottom of the foot blocks, and makes nocontact with the track through any part of the tie bar (or central rail)assembly.
 3. A runner's starting block assembly consisting of threeparts: a front foot block, a back foot block and a tie bar, which whenassembled and placed on the track in a starting position, allows thefront foot block to extend beyond the front of the tie bar, therebyallowing the tie bar to be shorter than the longitudinal separation ofthe foot blocks.
 4. A runner's starting block assembly consisting ofthree parts: a front foot block, a back foot block and a tie bar, whichwhen disassembled and folded will fit into a box (or space)12 incheslong, 12 inches wide and 6 inches high.